NetGear ME101

Have you got a gadget with a network port but want to connect it to a wireless network? You need a wireless network bridge.

It sounds complicated but it's really just a box of tricks that a device with a network port plugs into. The trick is that as far as the device is concerned, it's plugged into a normal network - the bridge takes care of the necessary Wi-Fi stuff invisibly.

The NetGear ME101 is one of a few wireless network bridges available but it's by far the smallest we've seen. It's about the size of a computer mouse and has three lights on the front and a large antenna, network port and power socket on the back.

You set up the ME101 by first plugging it into a PC and using your web browser to access its built-in set-up application. Once you've specified your various Wi-Fi settings, you can then unplug it and reconnect it with the device you want to wirelessly network. That's it - it works straight away.

We tested it with both the SLIMP3 (reviewed on page 24) and a Microsoft Xbox console - both worked perfectly.

Contact: NetGear 0870 112 1206
www.netgear.co.uk